Covering elections in recent years has been
predictable. It was no surprise that Jim Gordon was elected the
first mayor of Greater Sudbury in the fall of 1999. In the last
federal election, there was no real choice except the Liberals.
We could have written victory stories about Diane Marleau and
Ray Bonin the day the election was called.
There was little concern during the 1998
provincial election that incumbents Rick Bartolucci and Shelley
Martel would not be re-elected.
So, I am looking forward to watching the
provincial results Oct. 2 and municipal results Nov. 10.
Anything can happen.
There are several possible scenarios
provincially. The PCs could win a majority or a minority
government; the
Liberal could win a majority or a minority;
or there could be a coalition between the Liberals and the NDP,
which happened in 1985.
Voters are still angry with Mike Harris, and
while they are ambivalent about Ernie Eves, funding
announcements for Sudbury Regional Hospital and the four-laning
of Highway 69 south have soften many hearts toward the
Tories.
So, it is possible Sudbury could elect a
Tory. After all, if it looks like Eves is going to re-elected,
Sudbury voters might just want to make sure they have a voice
at the table this time. Mila Wong, a woman from the north who
is also a visible minority, would be a good candidate for
minister of Northern Development and Mines.
On the other hand, veteran Liberal MPP Rick
Bartolucci is very popular, and he has a good chance of being
in cabinet if Dalton McGuinty can convince voters he can be a
leader.
In Nickel Belt, the NDP dynasty could fall to
former police chief Alex McCauley if there was a province-wide
Liberal sweep.
Or things could just continue the way it has
been for the past eight years.
It is still too early to call. But election
night will be full of surprises.
By my count, Northern Life has 10 issues to
prepare voters for election day. We have a provincial election
website-access it at northernlife.ca-with lots of interesting
background information that will help you make your decision.
Visit our discussion board to express opinions on a variety of
topics.
For the first time, Northern Life will be
providing up-to-the minute results at northernlife.ca on
election night.
The newsroom is reinventing what we do and
how we do it.
Vicki Gilhula is the managing editor of Northern Life.
